Recent advances in the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric disorders

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2011;54(10):1061-1069

Publication date (electronic) : 2011 October 12

doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2011.54.10.1061

Department of Psychiatry, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Corresponding author: Won-Myong Bahk, wmbahk@catholic.ac.kr

Received 2011 August 19; Accepted 2011 September 04.

Abstract

Psychopharmacology has developed over approximately the past five decades. The remarkable proliferation of information in this area has made it difficult for clinicians to understand the characteristics of various psychotropic agents. Atypical antipsychotics including amisulpride, asenapine, aripiprazole, blonanserin, clozapine, iloperidone, lurasidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone, and zotepine cause fewer extrapyramidal problems and have many clinical applications, but they can cause metabolic disturbances. Mood stabilizers and lamotrigine are widely used for bipolar disorder. Other novel anticonvulsants such as topiramate, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, tiagabine, pregabalin, vigabatrin, levetiracetam, and riulzole have also been tested with diverging or inconclusive results. Antidepressants are commonly used in the clinical treatment of depression and anxiety disorder. However, the mechanism of action of medications used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders remains unclear. Understanding the mechanisms of action and clarifying the diagnosis may enhance the treatment outcome in psychiatry. In this review, we analyzed clinical pharmacology data for each drug within a class and discussed clinical strategies for administering currently available antipsychotics, mood stabilizer/anticonvulsants, and antidepressants widely used for various psychiatric indications.

Keywords: Psychopharmacology; Antipsychotics; Mood stabilizers; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressive agents

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